Rhinoplasty for Teenagers – Is It a Good Idea?

Plastic surgery’s popularity continues to rise for adults all over the world. But there has also been an uptick in the amount of cosmetic surgeries performed on teenagers.

Rhinoplasty has the highest number of patients in the 13- to 19-year-old group, with over 30,000 of them performed in this age range alone. Nose jobs continue to grow in popularity for teenagers and adults, but are they really that different between the age groups?

Actually, with the right information and preparation, rhinoplasty can be as beneficial and as safe for teenagers as it is for adults.

How Young Is Too Young for Rhinoplasty?

In terms of the actual procedure and the techniques involved, rhinoplasty on teenagers is not all that different from rhinoplasty on adults. The primary concern for doctors when operating on a teenager’s nose is the development of the cartilage. A young patient’s nose should be finished growing and have reached its adult size. Doctors like to wait until this time to prevent any issues that could be caused by cartilage continuing to grow after surgery.

Teenagers grow and develop at different rates, but on average, girls finish puberty around 15 or 16 years of age and boys finish puberty around 17 or 18 years of age. Surgeons will usually wait until the later age to do a rhinoplasty procedure, just to ensure that the cartilage in the nose is done growing.

Why Do Teenagers Even Need Rhinoplasty?

A lot of adult patients don’t needrhinoplasty, but are still able to benefit from the emotional, physical, and psychological effects of having a nose that they like. Teenagers are the same way, and could even benefit more than adult patients.

One of the unfortunate effects of puberty is that not all body parts grow at the same rate, even in the face. Features can be distorted, disproportionate, or oddly shaped. This can be a primary source of teasing, bullying, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem, all of which can have a detrimental effect on a young teenager.Getting a nose job while in school can improve their quality of life as a teenager and contribute to an improved quality of life as an adult.

Sometimes, teenagers want to get a rhinoplasty for deformities or functionality problems caused by injuries or genetics. If these problems occur in their early teen years, the cartilage growth into their late teen years can exacerbate these issues, impacting their breathing or the overall appearance of their nose.

What Is Different About Rhinoplasty for Teenagers?

Rhinoplasty surgeons have to take into account the maturity level of the patient and the motivation for getting the procedure. Rhinoplasty can do great things for the self-image, but it won’t make a patient popular or just like everybody else. Teenagers who want a rhinoplasty because of peer pressure or as a way to fit in aren’t good candidates for the procedure at this age. They also need to be able to understand the consequences and potential risks of undergoing rhinoplasty. A rhinoplasty surgeon will make these determinations during their consultation with the patient.

One way that a rhinoplasty is better to get as a teenager is that younger tissue has a much faster healing rate. This means that a teenager will have a shorter recovery time and be able to bounce back from surgery much easier than they would as an adult.

Scheduling Your Teen a Rhinoplasty Consultation

Dr. ShervinNaderi, MD, FACS of the Naderi Center Rhinoplasty& Cosmetic Surgery is a facial plastic surgeon located in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Dr. Naderi has dedicated himself and his practice to the specialty of rhinoplasty, treating the area of the nose both cosmetically and functionally. Because of his dedication to each patient, he always seeks the best approach to improve both form and function. His goal is a nose that works with and complements the face so that it looks both attractive and natural. His skills include not just basic rhinoplasty and septoplasty, but also revision rhinoplasty and reconstruction. The results of just some of his work can be seen here in the Naderi Center Photo Gallery.

Dr. Naderi is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. If you’re considering a cosmetic procedure, and want to consult with an experienced Washington, DC-area facial plastic surgeon, call the Naderi Center Rhinoplasty& Cosmetic Surgery. For the convenience of his patients, he has two office locations: one in Herndon, VA (703 481-0002) and the other in Chevy Chase, MD (301 222-2020). Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The doctor can also be reached by email.